Text, scholarly version, translated from the 1590L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612 Latin and 1609/1612/1641 Spanish editions:
50.1. {1591G4Add & 1602G only{Lothringen.}1591G4Add & 1602G only}{1590L4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L & 1609/1612L instead{LOTHARINGIA.}1590L4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1603L, & 1609/1612L instead}{1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead{Lotharingia or Loreyna.}1602S & 1609/1612/1641S instead}{1608/1612I instead{La Lorena.}1608/1612I instead}{1606E instead{Lorrain.}1606E instead}.
50.2. {1590L4Add{The borders of Lorraine in former times extended much further, for it contained almost the whole region lying between the rivers Rhine and Schelde, and the {1591G4Add & 1602G only{Elsas}1591G4Add & 1602G only} mountain [range] Vosges, all of which was divided into higher and lower [Lorraine]. Lower [Lorraine] contained Brabant, Haspengow, Gelre and Cleve. In higher [Lorraine] were the bishopric of Liege with the countries of Luxemburg and Limburg, as also the duchy of Mosel, the county Palatine upon Saur and the territory of Hundsruck, together with the dukedom of Lorraine presented on this map, retaining as yet its ancient name Lotharingia, {1595, not in 1602G{imposed by Lotharius, son of Ludovicus Pius to whose share it fell, lying [as it does] between Westrasia (or as some incorrectly call it Noastria), which fell to Charles and Austrasia to the brothers Ludovicus Lotharius}1595L, not in 1602G}. Therefore I do not think it amiss to describe it in more detail, not in my own words, but in those of Symphorianus Campegius, once a famous physician from Lorraine as follows:
50.3. Lorraine, (he says) borders East at the Rhine on Alsatia {1606E only{commonly [called] Elsas,}1606E only} South on Burgundy, West on Champagne (not in 1606E{on this side of the Alps}not in 1606E} & North it is bounded by the forest Ardennes {1591G4Add & 1602G have instead{Eiffel, and the woods and mountains which extend from Luxemburg to Flanders}1591G4Add & 1602G instead}. This region, although so near the lofty Alps that it touches the clouds, is nevertheless so fat and fertile that it needs no supply from the neighbouring provinces. It abounds with cattle great and small, meadows, corn, wine, fish ponds, tall woods, health baths, salt mines, iron, copper, lead, tin, silver, precious stones, mirrors, [and] calcidons, and is watered by various rivers, four of which are famous above the rest. [The] Maas, the first of these four, has its source in the South in the mountain range Vosges (after which a large and good part of Lorraine is called Vosges and running past Neufchâtel, a town now very accommodating both for its pleasant location and its wholesome air, separates the duchy of Barrois from Lorraine, and empties into one of the tributaries to the Rhine before it reaches the sea.
50.4. [The] Mosel, the second [river], begins in the Southeast, not far from the town of Remiremont, where there is a monastery of vestal nuns, all by descent gentlewomen, endowed with large yearly revenues. About six miles from here there are certain hot baths to which great multitudes of people come to cure themselves of various diseases. Then it runs along in a swift stream to the towns of Épinal, Charmes, Toul (which in old times was called Leuca) and {not in 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S{Mediomatrices, now called}not in 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S} Metz. Not far from there it empties into the Rhine in a city in Germany {not in 1591G4Add, 1602G, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S{that used to be called Confluentia}not in 1591G4Add, 1602G, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S}, {1591G4Add, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{now Koblenz}1591G4Add, 1602G, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S}. {not in 1591G4Add & 1602G{Between these two rivers near the town of Vitel there is a double fountain split like a man's nostrils, from where the small river Vena issues. This is sometimes sandy, sometimes muddy, and for the most part is very inconsiderable and forlorn. Its waters have commonly dried up in June, except for pools which have been made very deep by swelling and violent streams}not in 1591G4Add & 1602G}.
50.5. [The] Murtha, the third river, {1591G4Add & 1602G only{as we can see daily}1591G4Add & 1602G only}, falls from certain rocks of silver mines, keeps its course through the valley of St. Didier, containing St. Godeberts fountain, which is generally {not in 1606E{by divine order}not in 1606E} generally reported to be medicinal against many diseases. This river Murtha runs along the town of St. Didier, and then past the towns of Raon and Lunéville which, are both singularly well defended because of their natural location, and because of their ramparts and walls. Then follows the town of St. Nicholas, generally famous and praised for its abundance of merchandise and multitude of miracles. Lower down the river is Nancy, the principal town of Lorraine, a place for strongholds, and a fortification of great importance. First it is surrounded by two ditches of great depth and a double wall. It also has four most admirable bulwarks, with plenty of military equipment and artillery so that it is invincible. The river Murtha finally empties into the Mosel. The fourth river is the Sar which runs from the East through Wastrasia, a province of Lorraine passing through Saarburg, Saarbrücken and {not in 1606E{near Trier}not in 1606E} empties into the river Mosel.
50.6. As Lorraine abounds all over with special commodities, we will omit many of them, and speak only about the main ones. First, then, the mountains of this province excel in all kinds of metals even above the Pyrenee mountains {1591G4Add & 1602G only{of France and Spain}1591G4Add & 1602G only}. They have, not speaking of the rest, various silver mines so abounding with this kind of metal that it is incredible what profit it brings to the whole country of Lorraine.
50.7. There are also salt mines, from which the most pure, tasteful salt, whiter than the snow from Scythia is dug, which yields a yearly profit to the duke, after deducting all costs, of 100,000 franks {1608/1612I only{amounting to 50,000 scudi}1608/1612I only}.
50.8. They also find here a substance from which they make mirrors and window panes, the best, in everyone's judgment, of Europe. It is impossible to find something equal in any place. Also calcidons of such an extraordinary size that I myself saw, {not in 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S{so help me God}not in 1602S, 1606E & 1609/1612/1641S}, at {1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only{the bishop's see in}1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S only} Toul a great vessel made of one whole piece. Also, Lazul commonly called azurum in the most excellent colours. It is a mineral by which, as all writers agree, the miners raise big profits.
50.9. In the valley of Vosges there are fountains (a memorable matter, and not to be omitted) so abounding with a kind of pearls and precious stones that most inhabitants of Germany use them. All stone smiths and jewellers from other countries not only approve of them, but also prefer them above the stones and pearls from the orient and the Indies.
50.10. There is a lake, {not in 1606E{if God loves me}not in 1606E}, fourteen miles in circumference, full of huge carps, for they are usually three feet long and one foot wide, which for deliciousness of taste are (in my opinion) to be preferred to all other sweet water carps in Europe. The lake is fished with nets every third year. This fishing, as all young children know, brings the duke of Lorraine 16,000 franks yearly.
50.11. Moreover, Lorraine abounds with wheat, wine, cattle of all sorts, wood, [and] excellent horses which surpass the Turkish horses in courage, the Spanish in swiftness, and the English in stature. In brief, [as regards] tall men and beautiful women, and all things necessary in a man's life, it is inferior to no other country. So far Symphorianus.
50.12. Francis Roseus very recently wrote a large book on the pedigree and famous deeds of the dukes of Lorraine. And I myself in my Itinerarium or journal have published some things about this region not unworthy to be remembered}1591L4Add, 1591G4Add, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1602G, 1603L, 1606E, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612L & 1609/1612/1641S end here}.
Vernacular text version, derived from the 1598 French and the 1598/1610/1613 Dutch edition:
50.13. {1598F{Loraine.{1598/1610/1613D instead{Lothringen}1598/1610/1613D instead}.
50.14. The borders of Lorraine in former times extended much further, for it contained almost the whole region lying between the rivers Rhine and Schelde, and the mountain [range] Vosges, all of which was divided into higher and lower [Lorraine]. Lower [Lorrain] contained {not in 1598/1610/1613D{Brabant}not in 1598/1610/1613D}, Haspengow, Gelre and Cleve. In higher [Lorrain] were the bishopric of Liege and the countries of Luxemburg and Limburg, as also the duchy of Mosel, the county Palatine {1598/1610/1613D only{upon Saur}1598/1610/1613D only} and the territory of Hondsrug. Thus it seemed convenient to us to include {not in 1598/1610/1613D{in this Theatre of ours}not in 1598/1610/1613D} a description of this noble country which (because it is now not so extended) yet retained its old name to the present, {1598/1610/1613 only{not in our words, but}1598/1610/1613D only} as provided by Symphorianus Campegius, once a famous physician from Lorraine as follows:
50.15. Lorraine (he says) borders East of the Rhine {1598/1610/1613 only{on Elsas}1598/1610/1613D only} {not in 1598/1610/1613D{and the Schelde}not in 1598/1610/1613D}, South on Burgundy, West on Champagne {not in 1598/1610/1613D{and from there to the mountains}not in 1598/1610/1613D}, and North it is bounded by the forest Ardennes. This region is surrounded by high mountains, yet is nevertheless so fat and fertile that it needs no supply from the neighbouring provinces. It abounds with sheep, oxen, cows, {1598/1610/1613D instead{large and small animals}1598/1610/1613D instead}, meadows, corn, wine, fish, it has various fish ponds, tall woods, health baths, salt mines, iron, copper, lead, tin, and silver. It has pearls, calcidons, and another substance for making mirrors. It is watered by various rivers, four of which are famous above the rest. [The] Maas, the first of these four, has its source in the mountain range Vosges in the South {1598/1610/1613D only{for which reason a large part of Lorraine is called Vosges}1598/1610/1613D only}, and running past Neufchâteau, a town now very accommodating both for its pleasant location and its wholesome air, separates the duchy of Barrois from Lorraine, and empties into one of the tributaries to the Rhine before it reaches the sea.
50.16. [The] Mosel, the second [river], begins in the Southeast, not far from the town of Remiremont, where there is a monastery of nuns, all gentlewomen of high descent, {not in 1598D{endowed with large yearly revenues}not in 1598D}. About six miles from here there are certain hot baths to which great multitudes of people come {not in 1598/1610/1613D{to wash and bathe}not in 1598/1610/1613D}, and cure themselves of various diseases. Then it runs along in a swift stream to the towns of Épinal, Charmes, Toul (which in old times was called Leuca) and the city of Metz. After having watered some parts of Germany, it empties into the Rhine in a city called Koblenz. Between these two rivers near the town of Vitel there is a double fountain split like a man's nostrils, from where the small river Vena issues. This is sometimes sandy, sometimes muddy, and often covered with a green weed similar to some shrubs, and in summer time, due to the heat of the sun, it dries up, except for some pools, where the water is retained which have been made very deep by swelling and violent streams.
50.17. [The] Murtha, the third river, falls from certain rocks of silver mines, keeps its course through the valley of St. Didier, containing St. Godeberts fountain, which is generally by divine order reported to be medicinal against many diseases and therefore of great renown. The river mentioned runs along the town of St. Didier, and then past the towns of Raon and Lunéville which, {1598/1610/1613D only{(so help me God}1598/1610/1613D only} are both singularly well defended because of their natural location, and because of their ramparts and walls. Then follows the town of St. Nicholas, generally famous and praised for its abundance of merchandise and multitude of miracles. Lower down the river is Nancy, the principal town of Lorraine, a place for ammunition, and a fortification of great importance. First it is surrounded by two ditches of great depth and a double wall. It also has four most admirable bulwarks, with plenty of military equipment and artillery, {1598/1610/1613D only{and also guns, in great multitudes}1598/1610/1613D only} so that it is invincible. The river Murtha finally empties into the Mosel. The fourth river is the Sar which runs from the East through Westrasia, which is under the command of the duke of Lorraine. Then it passes through Saarburg and Saarbrücken and near Trier empties into the Mosel.
50.18. As Lorraine abounds all over with special commodities, we will omit many of them, and speak only about the main ones. First, then, the mountains of this province abound with all kinds of metals even above the Pyrenee mountains. They have, not speaking of the rest, various silver mines so abounding with this kind of metal that it is incredible what profit it brings to the princes and lords of this land {1598/1610/1613D instead{to all of Lorraine}1598/1610/1613D instead).
50.19. There are also salt mines, from which the most pure, tasteful and white {1598/1610/1613D instead{whiter than Scythian salt}1598/1610/1613D instead} is dug, which yields a yearly profit to the duke of Lorraine, after deducting all costs, of 100,000 franks.
50.20. They also find here a substance from which they make mirrors and glasses, the best, in everyone's judgment, of Europe. It is impossible to find something equal to them anywhere. Also calcidons of such an extraordinary size that I myself saw one belonging to the bishop of Toul a great vessel made of one whole piece. Also, a mine with stones of a blue colour which, in the judgment of those who know about these matters, exceeds in beauty all other stone {1598/1610/1613D instead{which among all praised dyes is the best}1598/1610/1613D instead}. [It is] a mineral by which the inhabitants raise big profits.
50.21. In the valley of Vosges there are fountains (a memorable matter) so abounding with a kind of pearls and precious stones that most inhabitants of Germany use them, not only approving of them, but also preferring them to the stones and pearls from the orient and the Indies.
50.22. There is a lake, {1598/1610/1613D only{so help me God}1598/1610/1613D only} fourteen miles in circumference, full of huge carps, for they are usually three feet long and one foot wide, which for deliciousness of taste are (in my opinion) to be preferred to all other sweet water carps. The lake is fished every third year {1598/1610/1613D only{by casting a net}1598/1610/1613D only}. This fishing brings the duke of Lorraine 16,000 franks yearly.
50.23. Moreover, Lorraine abounds with wheat, wine, oxen, cows, sheep, wood [and] excellent horses which surpass the Turkish horses in courage, the Spanish in swiftness, and the English in stature. The people are of large stature, and the women of unmatched beauty, so that they are inferior to no other country. So far the description of Symphorianus}1598/1610/1613D end here}.
50.24. {not in 1598/1610/1613D{Francis Roseus very recently wrote a large book on the pedigree and famous deeds of the dukes of Lorraine. And I myself in my Itinerarium have published some things about places and cities in this region worthy to be remembered.}1598F which ends here; not in 1598/1610/1613D}.